First Baptist Church

I have pastored only a few churches in my 23 years of pastoring. The one thing that I have noticed is that some people take membership in their church very seriously while others treat it casually. What makes the difference? Well, honestly, I think there are a number of factors.

First, Jesus told a story in Luke 7:40-43

And Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he replied, “Say it, Teacher.” “A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. “When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?” Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have judged correctly.”

And He said to him, “You have judged correctly.”

Some people take membership and involvement in their church seriously because they know that they have been forgiven much, so they want to love God with all they have and all they are. God has chosen to work in world through His Church, so they pour themselves into their local church to serve, give, and attend.

Second, some people have separated themselves from friends and family by their decision to follow Jesus. Their “friends” don’t want them around as much because they make them feel guilty about the life choices they are making. Now, the Christian friend may not actually say anything to them, but Paul said that Christians are:

For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things? 2 Corinthians 2:15–16

Since their family and friends don’t have as much to do with them, they pour themselves into life in the church because it is there that they find their family and friends.

Third, others see involvement in their church and taking their membership seriously as natural for a Christian. They really don’t even think about whether or not they will attend worship, engage with a Sunday school group or small group for discipleship, or serve in one or more ministries of their church. They know that the Body of Christ only operates properly when all of the parts do their part. Paul talked about this in Ephesians 4:14-16:

As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

They know that when a member of the church does not serve, the church cannot fly or even walk, but must limp along. They know that God did not send them to the church to just sit, soak and sour, but to serve.

Fourth, many people don’t take their church membership and participation very seriously because their church has not communicated any expectations to them to do so. In the 1980’s and 1990’s, many churches went to a model that says they don’t expect anything of their members, so that is what they get. I think we need to tell people what we expect. For instance, at First Baptist Church in Walters, we expect our members to come to large group worship, be involved in small group discipleship (primarily through the Sunday School), to serve in at least one ministry and to give faithfully. We communicate this. Not everyone does it, but at least they cannot claim ignorance.

Lastly, many people don’t take their church membership seriously because they don’t have one or if they do have one, it is at a church in a community where they no longer reside.

Perhaps it is time for us to take involvement in God’s church as seriously as we say we take the salvation He has given us.